Daintain/AIF-1 promotes breast cancer cell migration by up-regulated TNF-α via activate p38 MAPK signaling pathway

Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2012 Feb;131(3):891-8. doi: 10.1007/s10549-011-1519-x. Epub 2011 Apr 21.

Abstract

Tumor-associated macrophages can release a vast diversity of growth factors, proteolytic enzymes, cytokines, and inflammatory mediators. Many of these factors are key agents in cancer metastasis. Daintain/AIF-1 is a macrophage-derived inflammatory cytokine which defined a distinct subset of tumor-associated activated macrophages/microglial cells. Previous study demonstrated that daintain/AIF-1 could promote breast cancer proliferation through activating NF-κB/cyclin D1 pathway and facilitate tumor growth. However, the effect of Daintain/AIF-1 on cell migration and cancer metastasis has never been reported. Herein, we used a mimic tumor microenvironment by incubating breast cancer cell lines, MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells, with macrophage-conditioned medium with or without purified daintain/AIF-1 polypeptide to evaluate cell migration. Results indicated that daintain/AIF-1 enhanced the migration of MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells in the manner of TNF-α up-regulation. Further study found that daintain/AIF-1 activates p38 MAPK signaling pathway contributing to up-regulation of TNF-α in MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells. Therefore, this novel daintain/AIF-1-p38-TNF-α pathway and insight into daintain/AIF-1 might have potential benefits in the control of tumor metastasis during cancer therapy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Breast Neoplasms / enzymology
  • Breast Neoplasms / genetics
  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins
  • Cell Movement* / genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Gene Expression
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Humans
  • MAP Kinase Signaling System*
  • Microfilament Proteins
  • RNA Interference
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / metabolism*
  • U937 Cells
  • Up-Regulation / genetics
  • p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism*

Substances

  • AIF1 protein, human
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Microfilament Proteins
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases